Systems for hanging articles

ABSTRACT

A system for the display and support of apparel includes a support arm which is attached to an horizontal surface such as a clothing bar or shelf. The support arm extends perpendicularly relative to the horizontal surface such that hanging apparel hung from the support arm is displayed with its front showing rather than from the side.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application no.61/618, 718 filed Mar. 31, 2012. Cross reference is also made to pendingU.S. Patent Application no.13/252,881 filed Oct. 04, 2011 which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to supports for hangingarticles, and more specifically to support frames designed for theconsumer market which can be mounted on a clothing bar or shelf for thesupport of hanging clothing or other articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Within the merchandising environment, various displays are used to hangarticles such as clothing. The most common display means for hanginggarments are clothing bars which are most typically straight or circularin order to display garments for sale. The clothing bars used incommercial environments typically have a rectangular profile while thoseavailable to the consumer market have a cylindrical profile. Certaincommercial clothing bars may also employ support frames which areattached to the clothing bars in order to showcase or enable sortinggarments by type. Although commercial bars have more structuralvariation than clothing bars manufactured for non-commercial use,because of proprietary design, parts associated with commercialassemblies such as support frames and other accessories are notinterchangeable with systems from other makers or with clothing barsmanufactured for the consumer market such as those often sold as part ofa closet storage solution.

While support apparatus are known that attach to vertically orientedpoles, a support apparatus for hanging garments and other articles whichis quickly attachable to a horizontally positioned cylindrical clothingbar without requiring additional tools or fasteners would be a valuableaccessory to any consumer closet system.

Moreover, a such a retrofittable support frame would be especiallydesirable if it were strong enough to support multiple articles withoutslipping, relocatable to any position along the bar and easilyremovable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a garment support for hangingarticles that is reversibly attachable to horizontal supports such asclothing bars, shelves and the like. One embodiment according to thepresent invention is mounted to a typical clothing bar so as to projectfrom the bar in order to display articles such as garments from thefront rather than the sides. The garment support is especially usefulfor planning wardrobe changes, selecting items that need to be drycleaned and many other wardrobe related tasks.

Multiple garment supports can attach along a clothing bar or a length ofshelving to provide additional hanging space.

In one aspect according to the present invention, the garment supportpossesses a support frame which is firmly attachable to a horizontalcylindrical clothing bar as an attachment surface.

In another aspect according to the present invention, the garmentsupport possesses a support frame which is firmly attachable to an edgeof a solid shelf as an attachment surface.

In yet another aspect according to the present invention, portions ofthe garment support are extendible.

Inclusive to all the foregoing aspects, the support frame is easilyre-positionable along the attachment surface of whatever kind.

The description as follows is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention to the particular forms set forth, but on the contrary, it isintended to cover such alternatives, modifications, combinations andequivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth in the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment according to the presentinvention for attachment to an edge of a shelf;

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one exemplary pivot hinge;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment according to thepresent invention for attachment to a cylindrical clothing bar;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the embodiment shown in (FIG.2 ) for attachment to a cylindrical clothing bar;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment according to thepresent invention for attachment to a cylindrical clothing bar;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in (FIG. 4 ) withattachable shoulder supports.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference listing:

-   100' garment support-   120 support frame-   122 attachment member-   122 a pad-   122 b collar-   124 pivot hinge-   126 tightening member-   128 stay-   130 bumper-   132 hook

Definitions

Unless otherwise explained, any technical terms used herein have thesame meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the artto which this disclosure belongs. The singular terms “a”, “an”, and“the” include plural referents unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. Similarly, the word “or” is intended to include “and” unlessthe context clearly indicates otherwise. Although methods and materialssimilar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in thepractice or testing of this disclosure, suitable methods and materialsare described below. The term “comprises” means “includes.” Allpublications, patent applications, patents, and other referencesmentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety for allpurposes. In case of conflict, the present specification, includingexplanations of terms, will control. In addition, the materials,methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to belimiting.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1 - 5 , a garment support 100' fordisplaying garments includes a rigid support arm 120 with a attachmentmember 122 in which the support arm is secured generally perpendicularlyto a horizontal structure such as a clothing bar 136 or shelf 138. FIG.1 depicts a support arm attached to a shelf edge with a pivot 124 whichincludes an aperture that a section of the support arm fits within topermit the arm to pivot away from a perpendicular orientation relativeto the shelf edge. Clothing is hung on the arm and retained in place bystays 128 which can be any portion of the arm that prevents a hangerhook from sliding unimpeded along the frame. While in the particularembodiment shown, the stays are spherical members permanently affixedalong the arm, it should be understood that other stays will suggestthemselves top those having the skill in the art; for example, collarswith a frictional fit that slide along a cylindrical or rod-shapedframe, or which are tightened at any point along the frame by setscrews.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment according to the present invention witha semi-cylindrical attachment member that rests over a clothing barinstalled in a closet. In a normal use, the end of the frame with stays128 projects outwardly from the clothing bar, while the opposite end ofthe arm 120 possesses a rubber bumper 130 braced against the rear wallof the closet. The bracing effect permits the clothing bar to supportthe weight of several garments facing out to assist in garmentselection. FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view of the embodiment shown in(FIG. 2 ). The amount of arm projecting from either the front or backcan be adjusted by adjusting tightening member 126 which is shown hereas a set screw that when loosened permits the arm to slide back andforth through collar 122 b. Preferably, the attachment member is linedwith a material 122 a of any suitably non-marring material such as arubber or felt pad. In effect, the arm is supported superiorly to thecloset rod and can be easily installed thereon and removed. Weight ofthe garments increases the inertia of the arm by forcing bumper 130against a back wall or against the underside of a closet shelf.

Another preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , is hung from aclothing rod by hook 132. An upper portion of a frame is fixed, whilethe lower srm portions 120 telescope by sliding back and forth throughcollar 122 b similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 . One arm segmentis capped by bumper 130 which is for bracing against the back wall of acloset. Both arm segments can be rotated axially and extended/retractedby loosening thumbscrew 126. FIG. 5 shows a pair of attachable shouldersupports 140 for the shielding of garments from projecting portions ofthe frame.

While the invention has been described by the particular embodimentsgiven, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited tothe particular forms set forth. For example, the attachment member canbe combined with any one of the support frames shown. The attachmentmember can be a spring clip or other clamping means that will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art. Whatever the attachment means tothe clothing bar, it is intended that the garment support resist side toside movement experienced by conventional closet hangers. Accordingly,the invention is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, andequivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of theinvention as described and shown in the disclosure.

1-4. (canceled)
 5. A system for support and display of hanging articlesand for mounting to a horizontal attachment surface, the systemcomprising: a support arm; a gripping member for adjustably coupling afirst point of the support arm to the horizontal attachment surface;wherein the support arm is coupled to the gripping member in aconfiguration such that the support arm comprises a length portion thatextends away from the first point and such that a majority of the lengthportion extends in a descending and non-vertical direction away from thefirst point and in which the support arm can be reversibly extended;wherein the majority of the length portion comprises a distal end fromthe first point, the majority of the length portion being physicallyunsupported between the first point and the distal end; wherein themajority of the length portion further comprises a plurality of stays,each stay in the plurality of stays at a respective position along themajority of the length portion; and wherein at least one or more staysin the plurality of stays is at different vertical position relative toat least one other stay in the plurality of stays.
 6. The systemaccording to claim 5 and further comprising apparatus for pivoting thesupport arm relative to the gripping member while coupled to thehorizontal attachment surface.
 7. The system according to claim 5wherein at least a portion of the length portion comprises an arcuateshape.
 8. The system according to claim 5 wherein the length portioncomprises a first length portion, and wherein the support arm furthercomprises a second length portion extending in an opposite directionthan the first length portion.
 9. The system according to claim 8wherein the second length portion comprises a distal end for contactinga surface to prevent pivoting of the support arm about a location of thegripping member.
 10. The system according to claim 9 and furthercomprising a rubber bumper on the distal end of the second lengthportion.
 11. The system according to claim 8 and further comprisingapparatus for adjusting a position of the gripping member between thedistal end of the length portion and the distal end of the second lengthportion.
 12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the apparatus foradjusting comprises a collar through which slides the support arm. 13.The system according to claim 8 wherein the gripping member comprises ahook positioned between the first length portion and the second lengthportion.
 14. The system according to claim 8 wherein each of the firstlength portion and the second length portion is reversibly extendable.15. The system according to claim 8 and further comprising a first coverover the first length portion and a second cover over the second lengthportion.
 16. The system according to claim 5 wherein the gripping membercomprises a top plate and a bottom plate, the top plate for abutting ina position relative to a top of a shelf and the bottom plate forabutting in a position relative to a bottom of the shelf.
 17. The systemaccording to claim 5 wherein the gripping member comprises a collar. 18.The system according to claim 5 wherein the horizontal attachmentsurface comprises a clothing bar.
 19. The system according to claim 5wherein the horizontal attachment surface comprises a shelf.
 20. Thesystem according to claim 5: wherein the length portion comprises afirst length portion, and wherein the support arm further comprises asecond length portion extending in an opposite direction than the firstlength portion; wherein each of the first length portion and the secondlength portion is reversibly extendable; and further comprising a firstcover over the first length portion and a second cover over the secondlength portion.